SUBMARINE PHOTOSYNTHESIS

By Katie-Marie Brown and Colin Bursey

Submarine Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is the process by which plants, algae and
photosynthetic bacteria use light energy to drive the
synthesis of organic compounds.
The organic molecules created by this process are an
important energy source for many small organisms that
are the base of the entire marine food chain.

Photosynthesis works by fixing atmospheric carbon:

 CO2 + 2H2O + light  (CH2O)n + O2 + H2O

Photic zone
The euphotic (photic) zone includes the surface waters down to
a depth of 200 meters.
200 meters is the maximum depth of light for photosynthesis (in
clear water). Anything deeper gets very little sunlight,
preventing photosynthesis.
The upper most part of the photic zone contains 70% of the
worlds photosynthesis.
The depth of the photic zone can be affected greatly by water
turbidity and the angle of the sun to the sea surface.
The photic zone does not necessarily mean that photosynthesis
can occur (other factors involved).
Photic zone
Plankton and Photosynthesis
Phytoplankton uses the power of the sun for
photosynthesis (producers), while Zooplankton only feed
upon Phytoplankton for energy (consumers).
Many fish, whales and crustaceans feed upon these
plankton. Therefore nothing could survive without the
sun’s energy.
Phytoplankton
Diatoms
 form a shell of silica, large amount of variance in structure
between species
 contribute ~45% of all ocean primary production
 harvest light energy by using chlorophyll a and c as well as
fucoxanthin

Dinoflagellates
 use chlorophylls a and c and either peridinin or fucoxanthin
 cause “red tides” – harmful algal blooms
 zooanthellae which are associated with corals are
dinoflagellates
Photosynthetic pigments
Most land plants are green and flowering but marine plants
come in a more wide variety of color.
The characteristic colors of the different algal groups are
caused by different combinations of photosynthetic pigments.
Over 98% of land and freshwater plants contain the pigment
chlorophyll b but only 13% of marine plants contain it.
Green algae contains chlorophyll b and chlorophyll a, kelps
and diatoms contain chlorophyll c instead of b, red algae
contains only chlorophyll a.
Chlorophyll allows plants to obtain energy from the sun.
Pigments continued
Chlorophyll a is in every photosynthetic plant and is the most
common.
The reason that there are so many pigments is that each
absorbs light more efficiently in a different part of the
spectrum.
Chlorophyll a absorbs well at a wavelength of about 400-450
nm and at 650-700 nm; chlorophyll b at 450-500 nm and at
600-650 nm.
In low light conditions, such as in deeper parts of the photic
zone, plants produce a greater ratio of chlorophyll b to
chlorophyll a. This increases the photosynthetic yield.
Algae

Note: All contain chlorophyll a

Cyanobacteria
Also referred to as blue-green algae

Account for 20-30% of Earth’s photosynthetic productivity

Use the phycocyanin pigment to capture light

oxygenic photosynthesis

can also fix atmospheric nitrogen

are hypothesized to be the evolutionary precursor to eukaryotic

chloroplasts (Endosymbiotic theory)
are also hypothesized to have caused the conversion of the
Earth’s atmosphere from a reducing to an oxidizing one
Bacterial Photosynthesis
Purple and Green sulphur bacteria
 obligate anaerobes
 use the bacteriochlorophyll pigment to harvest light energy
which they use to break down sulphur-containing
compounds
 water is not the reducing agent; does not produce oxygen
Important things Bob said
Some animals may be able to detect light at greater depths
because they have very specialized organs.
Photosynthetic efficiency is more important in sea plants than in
land plants due to the lack of light.
Seaweed with high efficiency will not release any photons.
Therefore, it will appear black when you take a picture of it.
The Calvin cycle in photosynthesis uses photons at 680nm.

Step Down Florescence:

 Chlorophyll a and the other accessory pigments can absorb photons
greater than 680nm and will release them with less energy (until
they reach 680nm and can be useful in the Calvin cycle).
References
Dring, M. J. The biology of Marine Plants. (1992)
Cambridge University Press.
Pinet, P. Invitation to Oceanography. (2009). Jones and
Bartlett Publishers
Owens, T.G., J.C. Gallagher, and R.S. Alberte. 1987.
Photosynthetic light-harvesting function of violaxanthin
in Nannochloropsis spp. (Eustimatophyceae). J. Phycol.
23:79-85.